Jack.



J. W. JONES.

JACK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6. 1914.

Patented May 22, 1.917.

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1-. W. JONES.

JACK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE'G. 1914.

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JACK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6. 1914.

Patented May 22, 1917.

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d/i f. 4 //6 //g g JESSE W. JONES, 0F BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

JACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 191?.

Application filed June 6, 1914. Serial No. 843,527.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Jnssn XV. Jonns, a citizen of the United States, residingat Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Jacks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in jacks and resides in the provision of a novelly constructed jack which will enable an easy and expeditious lifting and lowering action.

An important object of my invention is to provide a jack of the screw type that is operated by a novel form of gearing and constructed so as to withstand shocks and jars incident to rough usage.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a ball bearing arrangement for the lifting screw which is of a novel form and permits an easy and reliable turning of the lifting screw in its cooperating elements.

Another important object of my inven tion is to provide an internally screw threaded band or collar having its screw threads formed with a groove on their lower faces to receive ball bearings and a ball bearing race way so arranged as to permit the ball bearings after working up toward the upper end of the band to return to the lower end thereof, the lifting screw having its threads provided with circumferential grooves to receive the ball bearings.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a jack of the character described which is strong, reliable and efiicient, consists of few parts, is capable of being readily assembled and disassembled and .which is cheap to manufacture.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out as claimed.

lVithreference to the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention as it is reduced to practice,

and throughout the several views of which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts:

igure 1 is a top plan view showing my jack as it would appear when in assembled position,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view,

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of the gearing for returning the lifting screw,

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the internally screw threaded band or collar to cooperate with the lifting screw,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail plan view of the lifting screw showing the'integral construction of the worm gear and bearing pin therewith,

Fig. 6 is a detail fragmentary perspective of the crank handle for operating the gearing shown in Fig. 3, and

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the internally screw threaded band or collar shown in Fig. -1 illustrating the race way or grooves for the ball bearings so as to permit the bearings to work from the lower to the upper end of the sleeve and be conducted downwardly to the lower ends.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference the numeral 1 designates an approximately cylindrical shell provided with external screw threads at its lower end to cooperate with screw threads in the side walls of a depression formed in a suitable base plate 2. Slidably mounted upon the shell 1 is a shell 3 having fitted at its upper open end a bearing plate 1. This bearing plate 4 is provided with a corrugated or otherwise roughened surface 5 to properly grip the object to be lifted. A threaded flange G is carried upon the under face of the plate 4: and is turned within the upper end of the shell 3 and is screw threaded.

Mounted vertically within the shell 1 and extending into the shell 3 is a lifting screw designated 7 as an entirety.

The threads of this lifting screw are provided upon their under faces with circumferential grooves 8 which form a continuous tortuous groove as shown in dotted lines in Fig. These grooves or groove receive ball bearings as will be later more fully described.

Mounted within the shell 1 adjacent the upper portion thereof is an internally screw threaded band or collar 9 which acts as a nut and has extended therethrough the lift in screw 7. This internally screw threaded band or collar 9 is provided at its lower extremity with an offset peripheral flange or projection 10 that fits within a recess 11 formed on the inner face of the shell 1 as clearly shown in Fig. 2 in the drawings.

A collar or other cylindrical bushing 12 is fitted within a recess 13 in the shell 1 upon the inner face thereof and surrounds the internally screw threaded band or collar 9. The upper faces of the threads on the band or collar 9 are grooved as at 1 1 so as to form a tortuous groove, said groove being V- shaped in cross section as clearly shown in Fig. at in the drawings.

A plurality of ball bearings 15 are mounted in the groove or grooves 1 1- and extend into the grooves 8 in the teeth on the lifting screw 7. The V-shaped grooves 14: in the teeth of the band or collar 9 enable the proper positioning of the ball bearings in combination with the grooves in the threads on the screw 7. The ball bearings do not interfere with the usual screwing operation but assist the screwing operation as will be readily observed.

It will be readily seen that the ball bearings 15 will work toward the upper portion of the internally screw threaded band or collar 9 when the screw 7 is operated to raise the outer shell 3. As a means for preventing the ball bearings from becoming deranged and allowing them to return to the lower portion of the band or collar 9, I have formed a groove or better, an opening through the band or collar 9 which extends from the upper portion of the collar 9 from the inner face to the outer face thereof and downwardly in an inclined curved plane around the collar or band 9 to a point opposite to the beginning of the groove or aperture at the lower extremity of the band or collar 9.

The lower extremity of this groove or opening is extended from the outside portion of the collar 9 to the screw threads thereof and into the grooves 1+1: in the screw threads so that the ball bearings may be worked upwardly to tl e upper portion of the band or collar 9. A segmental portion of the band or collar 9 upon one side thereof and designated 16 is removable with respect to the body portion of the collar 9 and held into place by a screw 17 or other suitable fastening means. A diagonally extending o ening 18 is formed through this removaEle segmental portion 16 and communicates at its inner end with the grooves 1.4 in the threads of the band or collar 9. The outer portion of this opening 18 communicates as at 19 with the upper end of a downwardly extending curved opening or groove 20 formed in the outer face of the collar or band 9 in the nature of a semicircular recess. This groove or opening 20 is constructed so that the ball bearings are visible but prevented from falling out. The

groove or opening 20 extends around approximately half of the band or collar 9 from the upper end as at 19 there-of to the lower portion of the band or collar 9 and communicates at its lower end with an opening 21 formed through a removable segmental portion 22 that is similar to the one 16 but arranged upon the side of the collar 9 opposite to that upon which is mounted the portion 16. The segment 22 is secured in the same manner as the one 16 and the opening 21. communicates with the lower end of the groove or opening 20 and lower end of the groove lit on the threads of the collar 9.

It will be readily seen that the ball bearings 15 after working up to the upper extremity of the band or collar 9 will be directed through the medium of the grooves or openings 18, 20 and 21 to the lower extremity of the collar 9 into the lowermost portion of the groove let in the threads.

The removable segmental portions 16 and 22 enable the ready positioning of the bearings and quick assembling and disassembling of the band or collar 9 as a whole.

Preferably formed integral upon the upper extremity of the screw 7 is a horizontally disposed and preferably circular worm gear designated 23. An upstanding projection 24 is preferably formed integral upon the upper face of the worm gear 23 and which is for a purpose to be later more fully described.

The outer shell 3 is provided with an offset portion intermediate its ends and designated 25. This portion 25 is formed in the nature of a casing in any suitable manner and has mounted therein in a horizontal plane a worm shaft 26. This worm shaft 26 is provided with ball bearings 27 at the ends thereof to enable easy and reliable operation and has one end extended through the portion 25 at the side thereof and squared as at 28 so as to receive a crank handle 29 as shown in Fig. 6. The other end of the worm shaft 26 is extended through the opposite side of the portion 25 of the shell 3 and has keyed thereon a beveled gear 30. This gear 30 meshes with a similar beveled gear 81 that is mounted on a shaft 32 which is journaled in a bearing 33 carried upon one side of the outer shell 3. The bearing 33 extends outwardly at right angles to the portion 25 of the shell 3 and the end of the shaft 32 farthest removed from that carrying the gear 31 is squared as at 3 so that the handle 29 may be operated in connection therewith.

It will be readily seen that the worm shaft 26 may be operated upon different sides of the device. This arrangement being particularly desirable in using the jack where limited room for the setting of the jack is had. The worm shaft 26 meshes with the worm gear 23 and serves to rotate the screw 7 so that it will be turned in the internally screw threaded collar 9. The collar 9 is stationary and acts as a nut and it will be readily seen that. the screw will be moved upwardly upon the rotation of the gears 26 and 23 in the proper direction to produce the upward movement of the screw.

The extension 2a on the upper face of the worm gear 23 cooperates with a boss 35 formed on the inner face of the plate l approximately centrally thereof. Mounted loosely and for rotation upon the extension 24 is a plurality of circular disks or plates 36. These plates or disks 36 are mounted one above the other and provided upon their meeting faces with circular ball bearing grooves 37 in which are mounted ball bearings 38. The ball bearings 38 are arranged in circular sets there preferably being three or more sets between the plates or disks 36. The plates or disks 36 that is, the outermost ones engage respectively the inner face of the plate a and upper face of the worm gear 23.

It will be readily seen that the outer shell 3 and parts carried thereon may be easily and readily rotated with relation to the lift ing elements therefor. The screw 7 is operatively connected with the outer shell 3 by engaging the boss on the inner face of the bearing plate 4.

It will be readily seen that the screw 7 when turned in the proper direction will force the outer shell 3 and boss thereon upwardly and the desired lifting action is thus provided. The lowering is easily permitted by the gearing arrangement described.

It will be readily seen with reference to the foregoing description and accompanying drawings that I have provided a simple and inexpensive jack which may be readily as sembled and disassembled. The parts comprising the jack as a whole are so arranged as to be readily removed when worn or broken and the ready removal of the parts enables inspection without requiring a great deal of time and labor. I have provided ball bearings for the rotating parts of the jack thus facilitating an expeditious and easy lifting and lowering operation. The strain on the bearings is evenly distributed through the medium of the disks 36 and arrangement of bearings therebetween. The grooves and openings formed in the screw threads and internal screw threaded bend or collar 7 insure the proper bearing of the bearing elements and prevent accidental derangement thereof.

This is considered one of the most essential points of my invention.

In practice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is the most efiicient and practical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be 'resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as set forth.

What is claimed is:

l. A jack including an inner shell, a collar fixed within said shell and having interior screw threads and provided in the upper faces of the threads with a spiral V-shaped groove, said collar having an exterior ball race consisting of a groove extending downwardly from the upper portion of the collar to the lower portion of the same in a curved inclined plane substantially half way around the collar and communicating at its ends with the said groove of the threads, said collar having segmental openings at the top and bottom of said ball race, said ball race segmental block detachably secured in said openings, a screw mounted in the collar and engaging the threads thereof and provided in the lower face of its threads with a spiral groove coacting with the V-shaped groove to form an interior ball race, balls arranged in the said races and means for rotating the screw.

2. A jack comprising a base having a recess in its upper face, an inner shell threaded into said recess, an interiorly threaded collar fixed within the upper portion of the shell, a screw mounted within the collar and extending into the recess and provided at its upper portion with a horizontal worm wheel, an outer shell slidable on the inner shell and provided on its exterior with bearings arranged at an angle in the horizontal plane of the worm wheel, a horizontal worm mounted on one of the bearings and meshing with the worm wheel, a horizontal operating shaft journaled in the other bearing, and gearing connecting the shaft and the worm.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

A. B. CLARK, R. R. BAXTER.

flopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. U. 

